Devices, systems and processes for substantially simultaneous payment verification using multi-factor authentication are described. A system may include a user payment system (UPS), a point of sale system (POS) communicatively coupled to the user payment system, and an issuing bank system (IBK) communicatively coupled to at least the POS. The IBK system may include an IBK hardware processor configured to execute first non-transient computer executable instructions including instructions for establishing a direct connection between the IBK and the UPS. The instructions may also include those for communicating, using the direct connection, a query to the UPS, receiving a first response, from the UPS, to the query, and based, upon the first response, determining whether to approve a given transaction. The direct connection may use a 5G wireless link. The query may be communicated to substantially simultaneously with receipt of a request to approve the given transaction.